15 yr of interstellar neutral hydrogen observed with the interstellar boundary explorer

Abstract

The interactions of our heliosphere with the surrounding local interstellar medium (LISM) lead to a range of observable phenomena such as energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) from the boundary regions of the heliosphere and the influx of interstellar neutrals (ISNs) into the inner solar system. Hydrogen is the dominant neutral species in the LISM, but due to ionization and radiation pressure, only a fraction of the ISN H atoms reach the inner solar system close to Earth. Monitoring this signal therefore provides observational constraints on our assumptions of the LISM and the solar-activity-dependent loss processes inside the heliosphere. The IBEX-Lo instrument on board the Interstellar Boundary Explorer has been the only instrument so far to measure ISN H atoms directly, together with ISN D, He, Ne, O, and ENAs in the energy range from tens of eV to 2 keV. This study covers 15 yr of IBEX-Lo ISN H observations, i.e., more than one solar cycle and includes two solar minima when the ISN H signal in IBEX-Lo is strongest. Despite the very intense ISN He signal, the ISN H signal can be retrieved with appropriate knowledge of the instrument, choice of optimum observation season, and supporting modeling. The retrieved ISN H signal shows a clear anticorrelation with solar activity. The resulting ISN H maps are available in orbit format and in ecliptic coordinates and will be the basis for future more detailed comparison with heliosphere models.